A Bar Harbor couple want to put Maine on the movie map with their first independent film "Beneath The Harvest Sky."

The movie, created by Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly is being released here in Maine on Friday before hitting the big screen across the country.

Advertisement

The movie is set in Van Buren and is the story of two teenage boys and their struggles of living in a small town but wanting more.

"One is working his final potato harvest and trying to save up money to get him and his friend out of there. Meanwhile, his best friend gets mixed up smuggling illegal prescription drugs across the Canadian border with his dad and uncle," said Gaudet.

Gaudet and Pullapilly wrote and directed the movie. Gaudet is Maine native and felt it was important to make the movie here.

"Having grown up in Maine, I knew kids in Aroostook County, and when they turned 18, it was about getting out of Aroostook County and trying to find an opportunity," said Gaudet.

The film made its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in December.

The movie was acquired by Tribeca Films and stars some big names like Aidan Gillen from "Game of Thrones."

Despite the report, the couple said making the movie was no easy task.

"We all as a production cast and crew lived under one roof at a Christian Life Center, and there weren't any luxuries or perks, and we all became a family and that allowed this film to be made," said Pullapilly.

While the movie was a labor of love, Pullapilly said things may have been easier if the state gave more support to movie makers. Gaudet agreed.

"We are currently struggling, cause right now the way the tax incentives are, people don't want to invest in a movie made here in Maine cause it is not fiscally responsible for the investor," said Gaudet.

Gaudent said films that should be made in Maine are being made in other states like Massachusetts because of the tax breaks there.

"For us, we are hoping the state would consider improving the tax incentives. There are a lot of Maine-based film makers getting their films out on the national level," said Gaudet.

About two years ago, Former state Rep. John Picchiotti sponsored a bill offering tax breaks to movie makers, but the bill was defeated.

"Beneath The Harvest Sky" will be shown at a number of movie theaters in Maine on Friday, including the Nickelodeon in Portland.